Providing a Feast

[Naiya]

Spring-2nd-516 AV

She had woken the woman early, despite her better judgement, but Seirei had insisted that she wanted to come hunt, to check the traps Naiya had laid on the day prior. When Seirei pushed, Naiya gave way, knowing that the skills would be important. If Naiya could impart a single useful skill to the woman today, it would be a success.

Her own morning was rough, she woke feeling tired and she was plagued by an upset in her stomach. Nerves from the coming hunt. Seirei would surely worry if she knew that Naiya was having trouble providing food for the children, so the simple matter was to give her own portions away. Tea and herbs, and small meals kept her running, but it was likely the reason she lacked her usual vigor.

Naiya pulled a small lump of cheese from a wax sealed jar, spreading it onto a thin bread that she and Seirei had taken to making after the lesson from the desert woman. She left the bread and cheese for Seirei, eating only the crunchy, nut flavored, bread.

It was still cold in the mornings, more son before the sun rise, so she waited until she believed that Seirei was distracted before pulling on her pants and removing her dress to don her silk cloak and the wolfskin pelt. Covered again she turned to her sister, silent to avoid waking the children should Seirei want to leave them to sleep.

Eat quickly, leave soon. She softened the orders with a sign of well meaning, affection. Warm enough, inquiry. She gestured to both the food and the chest of clothing, an open invitation for Seirei to take what she needed.

[Seirei Dawnwhisper]

It was early. Perhaps too early, given how late the twins had kept her up last night. Seirei was exhausted. But she was also determined. She wanted...no, needed to learn how to hunt. Learning how to trap would help as well. And if she had to get up before the sun in order to learn, then that was exactly what she would do.

The twins were still asleep, and would hopefully remain so for some time. So Seirei asked Taerin to watch the twins while she was gone. Then, blinking sleepily, she emerged from her tent, and followed Naiya. Her sister looked tired. Had she had a bad night, too? Perhaps a nightmare about losing Shahar, or what might have happened to him? Seirei worried about her sister, but she knew better than to ask. Naiya probably wouldn't tell her what was bothering her any more than she would tell Naiya what was bothering her.

Naiya offered her some bread spread with cheese, and Seirei took it with a smile, and a word of thanks. She bit into it, and was delighted by the sharp, tangy taste of the cheese.

Very good she signed as she savored the next bite.

But they needed to leave soon, so Seirei had to hurry. She ate quickly. When Naiya gestured at some more food, and a chest of clothing and invited Seirei to take what she needed, she took her sister up on the offer, taking a cloak from the chest. She paused to put it on before turning to her sister.

Ready. she signed, but then she hesitated.

Bring bread? To eat while hunting? she suggested silently.

Seirei wasn't sure if they would have time to eat while they were out hunting, or not. Or if it would be safe to do so. But it seemed to her as if they would be able to stay out longer if they stopped for a small meal when they got hungry. And if nothing else, it might keep their bellies quiet so that they wouldn't frighten off any potential prey.

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[Naiya]

Rain pattered overhead, stealing the warmth from each patch of skin it contacted.

She would need her gloves, she decided, pulling them on before adorning her self in the gear she needed for her bow. Her archer's glove fit snugly over the silk, her bracer seemed to not notice at all the extra layer. She pulled her quiver and her bow from their homes, swinging the quiver across her shoulders before planting one end of the bow in the dirt.

She uncoiled a bow string, sliding it into place in the nock, then flipped the weapon, bending the bow with the strength of her arms pressing it down against the earth until she could loop the other end of the string into place.

Agreement shaped her shoulders as she caught the signs of the other woman, they had a number of bells before they needed to return to tend the animals, a snack would benefit them well. She took a soft cheese wrapped in cloth, and added a nearly empty string of bread to her pack.

Walk or ride? she asked the woman, wondering what was easiest for her at this point in her pregnancy. Her sister was nearly ready for the coming birth, so she was sure that her preferred method of travel was in the wagon, but since they couldn't take the wagon hunting she figured the choice should go to Seirei.

Waiting for her to pick, Naiya turned to Akaidras, greeting the strider with a gentle coo. She didn't have much time for grooming, and since she had tended him and the other striders the night before, she was fairly confident in his health.

She used her fingers to curry his coat along his girth and his back, dispelling clumps of dirt and pieces of grass, then with quick strokes she brushed away the dirt. He was used to being a hunting companion, and he was strong, he could easily pull the prey they caught, assuming they found anything outside of the traps.

She slid his yvas into place, bundling the body sled carefully and attaching it on his back. She attached her wetskin as well as the two others, two of them were empty or nearly so, but the third was full and they could fill the others.

She turned to see what Seirei had decided, and a yawn stretched her lips and contorted her cheeks. Apology shaped her hands as she gave her sister a rueful grin.

[Seirei Dawnwhisper]

Seirei frowned thoughtfully as she watched Naiya string her bow. Then she glanced at her own. She knew the basics of how to shoot an arrow, even if she had serious doubts of actually being able to hit anything. But this was something completely new to her.

"Do you always string your bow each time you use it? Should I be doing that, too? If so, will you teach me?" she asked quietly, not wanting to wake the twins. Why do it?

Another thought occurred to Seirei as she watched Naiya pack some food for their trip.

Bring cats? They help hunt?

When asked whether she wanted to walk, or ride, Seirei hesitated. Neither was easy for her at this stage in her pregnancy. But using the wagon simply wasn't practical. Nor could she stay in camp until she gave birth. Besides...she needed all the practice she could get when it came to riding. She was determined to be worthy of Thunder by the time he was old enough to ride. And that wouldn't happen if she didn't practice every chance she could.

Ride. Easier than walking far. Need practice.

Naiya yawned, and the gesture was catching, because Seirei felt the sudden need to yawn, too.

None needed. What do we hunt?

Seirei hoped that it wouldn't be anything too challenging. She knew that they could really use something big. An elk, maybe. Or a couple of deer. Something that would provide enough meat for several days so Naiya wouldn't have to hunt so often. But Seirei was afraid that she would be more of a burden than a help against most prey. She knew that she should have practiced more at the Hunter's Allegiance. But her advanced pregnancy made that very difficult for her. And she was still worried that someone would see her there, and challenge her right to be there.

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[Naiya]

"Mm." Naiya made a soft sound of affirmation, "Best to string and unstring every time." She spoke softly, but quickly, she didn't want to take too long before they got moving. "String pulls the bone taught, tight, leaving it like that all the time causes strain on the bow. Not bad, just it will wear out more quickly." Not worry, will show after hunt.

"Mm." She agreed once more with a nod, "Banti, Tuka, Kabek." She summoned the cats with their names, quiet, but plenty loud for the sensitive ears of the hunters.

Ride Drelah, best for this hunt She told her sister, beckoning her over to help with grooming and tack. She showed the woman how to make a claw with her fingers to do a quick curry, reminding her to curry in small circles to break up dirt and loosen hair. She pinched a tick off his hide, making sure to remove the head as well when she did. They each groomed together, getting his back and shoulders done in no time at all. If Seirei was comfortable Naiya would stand back while she placed the yvas pad and yvas on the gelding.

Hunt deer, elk, medium sized prey Naiya told her, Rabbit, bird, pig, ram, all good too. She hesitated a moment before grabbing her spear and digging her old dagger and scabbard from the travois. Here, offering She presented the dagger to Seirei, You might need it.

Feeling much more ready, Naiya would help Seirei mount should she need a hand, and swing up into her own saddle. A signal to the cats would send them on hunts of their own, coming out with the hunters and staying close. Follow She signed to Akaidras.

"Ready when you are," Naiya would say, letting Seirei start them forward once she was comfortable in her seat.

[Seirei Dawnwhisper]

Seirei nodded thoughtfully as Naiya explained that a bow would wear out more quickly unless it was left unstrung while not in use. Her bow had been very expensive. She wanted to get as much use out of it as she could before she had to buy another. When Naiya told her that she'd show her how to string and unstring a bow later, Seirei thanked her.

When Naiya suggested that she ride Drelah for the hunt, Seirei was relieved. The seme gelding was a quiet, patient horse. One that would forgive her any mistakes she made as she rode him. And while she was better than she had been a couple of seasons ago, she still needed a horse or strider that wasn't going to bolt or sulk if she gave the wrong command by mistake.

Seirei watched the quick demonstration on how to do a quick curry. Then she followed suit, curving her fingers into a claw that she rubbed in small circles along Drelah's hide. Naiya helped her with grooming the gelding, for which she was grateful. She enjoyed grooming their animals. She especially enjoyed the bond it seemed to create between Drykas and animal. But she was still slow at it. If they had to wait for her to groom Drelah on her own, they'd be getting a much later start than they should. When they were done, Seirei picked up the yvas, and placed it on Drelah's back carefully. It took her a few ticks to make sure that it was settled properly, and would not be uncomfortable for Drelah during the hunt. Once that was done, she buckled the strap, making certain that it was tight enough that the yvas wouldn't slip, yet not too tight for Drelah's comfort.

Seirei placed her hands near Drelah's withers, and took a section of his mane into one hand. Then she sort of hopped up and onto the seme's back. It was rather awkward, but she was able to manage on her own. It took her longer than she would have liked to feel secure in her seat, but when she was ready, she signed to Naiya, indicating that she was. Her expression was one of eager determination.

She thanked Naiya for the dagger, but she eyed it a bit nervously. She had no idea of how to use it, and hoped she wouldn't have to. Still, it would be better to have it and not need it, then need it, and not have it. Of the animals Naiya suggested they hunt, Seirei had the feeling that rabbits would be what she was most likely to have success with...assuming that they found any, that was. But she would do her best to help bring down anything they found.

Seirei was a little nervous about being the one to start them off, but she requested Drelah to walk slowly. It was the only gait she felt truly comfortable with. Especially when there were other people around that might get hurt if she lost control. She focused on feeling the way Drelah moved beneath her, and shifting her own weight to keep herself balanced as the gelding walked.

Once they reached the edge of the city, Seirei turned to Naiya.

Where do we go from here? she signed. Then she added; How do we keep from getting lost?

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[Naiya]

"We search for markers in the grass, aim for them, and keep the smoke of the city in sight. If I were a webber, we could use that, but I was never taught the magic." She explained with a shrug, instead pointing out a copse of trees just highlighted by the growing light in the distance. "We look for places where animals well shelter for the night, or water where they will go when they wake." She informed the other, "If it grows light, we can seek tracks or the animals themselves."

They wondered on, Naiya letting Seirei keep the pace, they had plenty of time yet. She kept her hips loose, her mind focused, leading only by presence on either side of Seirei to keep her from veering off course. The cats were already gone, hunting together perhaps, away from their Drykas. Naiya had no intention to hunt anything large or dangerous, so she'd sent them on a hunt of their own.

When they neared the trees Naiya signaled for the other woman to stop, deer in the trees she signed as explanation. Naiya dismounted quickly, moving forward with her bow scouting as she searched for tracks or scat in the grass.

She found tracks, but not the ones she had expected, the large padded mark of a hunting cat flattened the grass and trailed through the dirt. She stopped her pursuit, the cats could take the deer alone. Cats here, we go. She didn't mention that the tracks could belong to a lion, that was not worth considering. It would only frighten her sister and cause undue worry.

She mounted back, pulling herself into her seat with a hop and they continued through the grass. She scanned the grass, seeking the larger signs of animals, or better yet, water that would draw animals.

The trees promised water close by, so she let Seirei continue at the head of their party as she sat back, eyes closed so that she could focus on the sounds of the morning. Seeking water, she would sign should she notice Seirei's attention, helping the woman to guide their horses well.

They rode on, perhaps thirty chimes at their pace, before Naiya could hear water, but better yet, the sky had lightened enough to spot the distinctive markings of a warren. Caution, rabbit holes, can trip horse and rider.

She beckoned the woman closer, a plan forming in her mind. She took care to lean in close, knowing that the two horses weren't going to pick a fight with one another. She dropped her voice low.

"This is a rabbit warren." She whispered, lips brushing against Seirei's hair, "We'll cover some of the holes with yvas bags, stones on top to hold it in place. Then we'll flush the rabbits out, the bags might catch some and we can shoot others. They'll be confused, startled, it should be easy enough."

She dismounted, offering a hand to Seirei should she want help, before gathering the yvas bags they had brought.

[Seirei Dawnwhisper]

Seirei listened to Naiya's explanation carefully. But the answer left her with even more questions.

"What kind of markers do you use?" she asked curiously.

Trees not common. she signed as she pointed at the trees in the distance.

"Do you want to learn the magic? How would you learn if you did? It seems..."

Important, useful.

It made sense that they would look for water. All animals had to drink sooner or later. But...

"How do you know where animals like to shelter for the night?"

Seirei was allowed to set the pace, and she chose a leisurely one. She was getting better at riding, but she wasn't all that confident in her abilities yet. And her advanced pregnancy made anything faster than a slow walk very uncomfortable for her. When Naiya signaled Seirei to stop, she was quick to do so. She would have started looking for signs of danger, but Naiya told her there were deer in the trees. Seirei remained mounted, but she looked around, trying to see what signs her friend had seen to tell her deer were present. She saw a few tufts of brown fur caught in the bark of the nearest trees, and in the surrounding grass. Was that a sign? Did deer shed their fur the way cats did? Had she been looking without knowing there were deer there, she would have dismissed the bits of fur completely. But since she did know, she made note of it. When she had a chance, she would ask Naiya about it later.

As she continued to look, she noticed some prints on the ground. Some of them were to faint for her to see clearly. Others were partially covered by dirt and debris. But there were a few she could see clearly. They seemed to consist of two longer shapes in the front that were vaguely oval, but at the top, they narrowed into points. Behind those were two smaller dots. Each side of the print seemed to reflect the other so that the points at the front of the print were pointed towards each other. Were those deer prints?

When Naiya returned, she told Seirei that the hunting cats were already hunting in the area. Seirei nodded, and they rode off.

"How did you know that there were deer there, Naiya?" she questioned curiously.

"I saw a few prints, and some brown tufts of fur. Were those left by deer?"

She described the prints she had seen as best she could. After Naiya answered, Seirei turned back to looking for signs of danger as they rode. Once again, she was allowed to lead. Trees meant water had to be near by, so she kept an eye out for that, too. When she happened to glance back, she saw Naiya sign that they were seeking water. Seirei nodded, and grinned, happy to have her guess confirmed.

After roughly half a bell of riding, Seirei heard the sounds of water in the distance. But she also noticed that there were a lot of holes in the ground. Seirei leaned back, asking Drelah to stop. The holes meant a real risk of injury to Drelah and Wildfire. They meant risk of injury to the Drykas as well if they dismounted, and tried to lead the horse and strider through the area. Seirei glanced at Naiya uncertainly, wondering what they should do.

The caution about the holes being likely to trip both mount and rider was unneeded. But it was nice to know what had made them. Rabbits. Seirei would remember that the next time she saw a lot of holes in the ground like this. Both because the rabbits meant food if they could be caught, and because she had never known that something as small and seemingly harmless as a rabbit could be such a threat.

Naiya explained the plan, then dismounted. Seirei thanked her sister for the help, accepting it gratefully as she dismounted as well. She made sure to keep a sharp eye out for holes as she helped Naiya gather up the yvas bags. Then she moved carefully over to one of the holes. She left the ones nearest to them open so that the rabbits would be close to them when they escaped. Or tried to.

When she selected a hole to cover, she tried to be quiet as she carefully covered the hole with one of the yvas bags. After a few ticks of searching, she found two palm sized rocks that she placed onto the yvas bag, one on each side. She repeated this until she ran out of yvas bags. Then she headed back to where Drelah and Wildfire were waiting.

Now what?

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[Naiya]

She looked out across the sea, her eyes knowing the look, the rolling grass and the hidden valleys. To her it showed a map, ridges and mires, sloping hills, all gathered together to give a sense of the grass.

"Trees, yes, and stone outcroppings.... stone sticking out of the side of a hill or the ground." She took the moment to explain the more complex pavi word, mindful of the woman's learning. Also, more"Shape of the land, see the hills, how they rise and fall, the slopes, valleys. It's all one big picture of the falling land." She eased up beside the woman, a hard click of her tongue against the roof of her mouth catching both horse and rider's attention as she steered them into a sharp turn, hands signing look.

She pointed across the sloping valley, mimicking the fall of the hills with outreached hands, two slopes on the left, one on the right, forming a narrow path along the valley floor. "On foot, you cut through the pass, the path on the lowest point, it is easier, you save energy and water. Mounted, you stay above, ride the crests, to try and spot life, predator and prey."

She looked to the woman for understanding, then shrugged, an amused smile forming across her cheeks. She pointed them back on track, and allowed both horses to move easily again by giving them both room. Still, she stayed close enough for easy conversation, picking about what she knew of webbing.

"I'm not sure. I know Shahar practices webbing, although if he still can I am not sure..." her voice trailed as her thoughts moved, but she came back to herself quickly. "I would learn it, if I could, I know they often teach the eldest boys of a pavilion. Most learn it later, once they are ankal of their own pavilion. For women... I don't know that many know the skill. Or even how one would learn it." Her hands plucked listlessly at the air seeking shapes that she could not muster and finally settling with kon toladi yo she could not have a better phrase than that.

"As for animals," Naiya began after a few chimes of silence, her voice a bit distant still as she considered the grasses and the shapes of the land, "They like to bed in safety, a glen provides good shelter, usually closed of on a few sides by hills, shaded with trees and brush. Gullies too, provide hiding places and room to run." Her eyes found Seirei, apprehension shading her posture. "I am not a very good hunter, but I know some, enough to help. Look for shelter, deer especially like to have plenty of room to hide away, especially if there is grass and low hanging branches from trees. Tracks in the ground indicate passage, and animals often follow the same passage over and over, like drykas follow the run." She let Wildfire pick up a bigger walk, moving ahead of Seirei to trample the grass before circling back.

"Flattened grass like this" She gestured at the newly marked grass, "often shows passage or a place where animals have bedded down. Marks like tufts of fur or piles of feces are good examples as well. Beyond that, I can not think of much now." She took an extra minute to ready her bow, checking her arrows, then set to work.

Her hands stilled to silence as they began to work on the warren placing all of the bags they had near together. Weighting them down with rocks and seeking two medium girth sticks for both her and Seirei.

Offering, easy She shaped, passing a stick to the woman, she gestured towards the bags, moving with soft, careful steps towards the far side of their simple traps. Hit ground, rabbits hear, they run. Away sound, toward bags. Her eyes danced with merriment as she continued, You take bags when they begin to move, hold closed so rabbits can not get back in holes. Pick all bags. I cover with arrows until bags are safe, then both with arrows. She had not hunted like this since she was young, children catching rabbits in bags and the adults gathering more with their weapons.

It was a memory of happier days, but one far overshadowed by the potential happiness it would bring them today, despite their family being a bit short on their loved ones at the time.

Ready Naiya shaped with confidence allowing the other woman a moment before she began to bang on the ground with her stick.

There was no immediate reaction, the banging of their sticks taking ticks to travel down into the dens and more ticks still before the rabbits could react. It was immediately clear when they began to escape, bags filling and bashing about. "Go go!" Naiya called with a cheer as she urged Seirei to move to gather the bags. "Tie the bags up, they won't get out fast.".

She drew her bow up, readying the blunted tip of the arrow as she aimed at the first rabbit she saw escaping from a hole. She aimed while it scrambled, feet slipping on loose dirt, then loosed her hold, sending it into the body of the rabbit and stunning the little creature, She moved to stand on it's foot as she took aim at another, loosing two arrows before the creature scampered away.

Mindful of the rabbit at her feet, she turned again to find a scrambling rabbit, waiting for a slip before loosing an arrow. It missed it's mark, but seemed to manage to catch the rabbit anyway, slamming into the creature with great force that left it too injured to run. She would rectify that soon, but not for another few chimes.

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Naiya space Pavi | Common | Tukant
other space Pavi | Common | Tukant